Johnny Herbert has opened up on Michael Schumacher's inner circle, saying Ross Brawn, Jean Todt and Gerhard Berger are all allowed to visit the stricken F1 star.
December marked 10 years since the German's life changed following a tragic accident in the French Alps.
Schumacher struck his head on a rock and has lived away from the spotlight in the years since.
Only a few people are allowed to visit the 55-year-old, such is his family's desire for privacy.
Michael Schumacher won seven F1 titles during his years in the sport
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And Herbert, speaking to Bettingsites.co.uk, says only the family and a few 'very trusted individuals' have access.
“Only the family and a very few trusted individuals," he said when asked who can meet the Ferrari legend.
"I have heard Ross [Brawn] has gone, Jean Todt and Gerhard Berger.
"That is sort of it as far as I believe.”
Herbert was also asked what Schumacher would be doing now if the accident hadn't occured.
And he expressed a belief that Schumacher wouldn't have taken over a team, adding: “I don’t remember any talk of taking over a team.
"But knowing his character I would not have been surprised to see him jump into a role as a team principal at Mercedes for example and find a way of moving into the management side.
"Would he have been good at it? Not all racing drivers have been.
"Alain Prost was the prime example who never quite worked out when he had his team.
“Niki Lauda did it but only on the management side with Mercedes.
"Would he and Michael have worked well together? Actually I think yes.
"They would have had both the old school and new school experience. They would have had a big impact.
"I could have seen it work well together.”
Herbert knew Schumacher well - and says he was fun to be around, as well as being seriously competitive on the grid.
“It was the fun side," he said when asked to give an anecdote about the former F1 star.
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Michael Schumacher and Johnny Herbert have raced together in F1
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"We all know there was the massively serious side to him totally driven by getting the best out of himself.
"But there was that end of season downtime, the relaxed moment we always had after Adelaide.
"He would enjoy the alcohol treats that were available and we all did. We could only do it once a year.
“He would go around the room and his party piece was to rip off everybody’s shirts.
"Trousers too. But it was mainly buttoned shirts which he would love to rip off.
Michael Schumacher had a 'fun side' according to former F1 star Johnny Herbert
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"That was the fun side of him. Those are the memories most people didn’t see, but they are the lovely memories I have of him.
"He had a great sense of humour and hopefully something we will see again.”
When asked whether Schumacher had a big heart, he continued: “Yes. There was Michael’s selfish heart. His big heart was what you saw with his family.
"He was a very family-oriented man and with the kids the stuff they did together.
"Horses were a big passion for him and his wife.
“There was life outside the bubble of F1 and fortunately he was able to switch off from his racing mode and found it quite easy to switch to the family mode.”
